aug 17 2014

people are already sending letters --  colored envelopes preferred.... hopefully enough so we can get some press about the post office noticing...

 supportive ones  to

  larry peterson 

 (83 nautical lane  s. yarmouth  ma  02664)  

and "educational ones" to

 the yankee clipper inn  

manager Mike Barnhard 

127 granite st 

rockport ma 01966

one of the owners is listed as susan ellis- 

127 granite street

rockport  ma  01966

several people are being very polite and educational  

you may not ask for an ID  or certification

you treat the dog as you would any other medical device like wheelchair or cane.

a business may throw them out if the dog  misbehaves and teh owner does not control the dog

( i wish all business people knew that --- it would eliminate some of the wannabees)

lynne has offered to speak to th e rockport innkeepers association- and she is right on the  thing..

i think sheila has the ear of some tv coverage..

maybe the first of the week someone can haul me out there with bentley--   that should be when some of this pink envelope campaign will be arriving

one of the statements this Mike Barnhard  made was he never saw a dog that big...

 and rucus is not all that big... ( neither is bentley--- he should see walter)

and i think they have a dining room...

 we need to hold a board meeting there ---- pro bono !!!!

************

back to the business end of this  bit...   our financial  reports are falling behind any useful state...  i need to know some of the numbers-- colleen........ i don't dare touch what you did...  but we need more of your time...  you don't want me to fix it... so i have not touched 2014.

quicken has some serious bugs  when i entered a deposit of $212- quicken  got all excited and at one point had a figure of $900,000  which it was going to hide somewhere.

does not make for accurate accounting.  the logic of why it did that took me weeks to decipher for 2013-- and i think 2013 s now correct...  but 2014 needs work... and i need it for planning.

********

this is lauras birthday--- there was talk of something fattening to celebrate-

********

you wil all be happy to note that since some of the big projects are near completion.....  we are onto some of the smaller ones...bud tackled my favorite speed bumps(aka potholes) in the driveway..

and the mailbox is back on the pedistal by the smokers den..

i mentioned the collapsing stone wall to steve-- he thought it might e amusing to tackle..

i know from experience-- it is far easier to build a stone wall than to repair one.

**********

HI CARLENE,

I HAVE BEEN READING IN THE DD WHERE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR UPDATES.  WELL, REALLY NOTHING NEW HERE BUT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME MILESTONES FOR IVY THAT HAVE HAPPENED THIS PAST YEAR.

IN MARCH, SHE WAS MY ROCK STAR IN GETTING ME THROUGH BACK SURGERY.   SHE WAS AN ABSOLUTE HIT IN THE PRE-OP SECTION OF CAPE COD HOSPITAL.  SHE GOT WARM BLANKETS AND BOTTLED WATER BEFORE I DID.  I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY CAMERA PHONES COME OUT AT ONE TIME TO TAKE PICTURES.

IN JUNE, WE TOOK OUT OUR DOGGY SWIMMING POOL.  I THINK DREW AND I USED IT MORE THAN THE DOGS DID.

ALSO, SHE DOES NOT LIKE HER NAILS CLIPPED.  NOT SURE HOW TO REMEDY THAT PROBLEM.

IN JULY, IVY DID AMAZING THROUGH THE FIREWORKS.  NOT EVEN A FLINCH FROM HERE.  UNFORTUNATELY, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, NEW TENANTS MOVED IN 2 HOUSES AWAY FROM US.  THEY DECIDED A COUPLE OF SATURDAY NIGHTS AGO TO LET GO SOME M-80'S.  THEY WERE SO LOUD AND STRONG THAT THEY ACTUALLY SHOOK THE PICTURES ON MY WALL.  IVY AND MY OTHER DOG WERE SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY.  TRUST ME, THE MASHPEE POLICE DEPT. WAS CALLED BY ME A COUPLE OF TIMES.  

NOW, SOME NEIGHBORHOOD PEOPLE ARE SETTING OFF FIREWORKS (NOT SURE WHY) AND I HAVE TWO DOGS, IVY ONE OF THEM, SHAKING AND DROOLING UNCONTROLLABLY.  ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

OTHERWISE, SHE IS MY ROCK STAR AND I WOULD NOT TRADE HER FOR ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.  SHE HAS BROUGHT ME PEACE, COMFORT, INDEPENDENCE, AND MOST OF ALL A SMILE TO MY FACE.

THANK YOU FOR IVY AND TO ALL THE STAFF AT SDP FOR THE MIRACLE THAT I NEEDED AND HAVE WITH ME EVERY DAY.

DREW IS MUCH MORE RELAXED KNOWING THAT IVY IS TAKING CARE OF ME DURING THE DAY WHILE HE IS AT WORK.  THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO THE BOTH OF US, AS I AM SURE IT DOES TO SDP ALSO KNOWING WHAT AN AMAZING JOB YOU DID TRAINING THIS GORGEOUS DOG.

P.S.  IS THERE A WAY TO GET GREAT DANES TO SLEEP ONA KURANDA BED INSTEAD OF IN MINE?

BETTY, IVY AND DREW TINGLEY

aug 16 2014

i feel a pink  envelope campaign coming on...  yankee clipper inn... in rockport refused to let larry stay with his dog-- and was  most disagreeable... i need to find the actual owner of  that yankee clipper inN..  lynne is on it and is relentless... go get 'em.... there was no excuse..  and larry could stand some cheerful notes too... 

  so please you can do a great thing for the price of  a couple stamps.

 so for that cheerful note....

larry  peterson

83 nautical lane

s. yarmouth  ma  02664 

then to the manager who was obnoxious... send a piece of your mind...

General Manager, Mike Barnhard 

yankee clipper inn

127 granite street

 rockport  ma  01966

and we will find the actual owner-- town offices are closed today - probably tho i will check-- letter to owner should be  "with such a beautiful building it is a shame to have such a disagreeable manager who is ignorant of the ada laws..."

  

seems logical to check and see if they aren't due for a health inspection and maybe building inspection too.

 there is also  a possible purple shirt  trip... with dogs... sheila is contemplating that... if she can get the media attention...

if we can get most mailed on monday-- it would be very helpful 

so get at it. 

 

 moving on....

***************

saturday is beginning... in case you didn't know..  and we hit 11 million last night..

i need ( someone?sheila?) to take opal for another blood test-- her last was .4--- that is point 4 ------ and we need 5.00 ---- and 3 days after that   surgical implant.  frozen sperm is not the greatest--- but sometimes works when there is no other alternative.. holly said she got 4 pups from her last frozen deal...  i would be happy with 4--  

******

these 4 look wonderful--  and they do look like orcas---- especially from the bottom.

****

meanwhile  ann tells me  that walter's breeder has a litter she wants to sell-- mostly mantles???  and not related to walter and scarlot.

*****

walter is big...  for an odd reason he had his head on top of my refrigerator-- with ease.

of course with slobber and bits of food  also.

****

 last night mail call someone asked how many dogs we have donated this year...   and our file is nearly up to date... i think it is about 10

*****

we need a few volunteers to be dedicated kong managers-- they need to be cleaned up and filled-- they are great entertainment for rainy days    once we get the walkin freezer we will have alot more possibilities for filling them 

that should happen before the end of the month.

**********

i need more coffee

AUG 15 2014
 FIRST BLOOD TEST ON OPAL IS DUE THIS  MORNING---

 AND THE SPERM IS IN TH EMAIL  ----(THAT IS A NEW ONE...)

PLAN IS TO DO ANOTHER BLOOD TOMORROW DEPENDING ON WHAT THIS ONE IS...

A LONG TIME AGO I THOUGHT  IDEXX HAD A GOOD THING GOING..-- THEY HAVE A BOX OUTSIDE VETS OFFICES- AND TWICE A DAY A CURRIER PICKS UP ALL THE SAMPLES TAKES THEM TO A CENTRAL LAB-- WHICH EMAILS BACK THE RESULTS WITHIN A FEW HOURS.

******

BUD AND MAROON ARE DOING VERY WELL-- THEY WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AN D DID ELEVATORS, STEPS AND FALLIN G DOWN..

  HE WILL BE HERE ANOTHER DAY OR SO--- MAROON IS A YOUNG DOG- AND NEEDS MILES... BUT BUD HAD GONE MILES ALREADY SO HE MAY AS WELL BE THE ONE..

******

Hi Carlene,

My Maude, has gone to greet her Merle sisters in the great doggie beyond.  Her doctor was so good to come here to my home, to Maude's personal space, her cave, as we affectionately called it  (my closet), to end her suffering.  In the past month Maude declined quite significantly.  However, regardless of her physical decline, she felt a strong responsibility to be the ever caring working dog.  Following me from room to room no matter how difficult it was for her.She had become increasingly incontinent despite the Proin, and she was becoming quite unhappy with this turn.  I never once reprimanded her, yet she felt badly regardless.   It was too difficult to watch, it was time.  

I wanted to tell you thank you for giving me the opportunity to be Maudie's mom, it was my great good pleasure.

Another Maude story for the books:  If I would fall, which I do occasionally) Maude would stand by my side, she'd stand very still so that I could use her strength to get up!  She was such a love, so caring.

I hope you and yours are well.

All the best,

Susan

SHE WAS THE LAST OF THE MERLE GIRLS.... ANNIE BELLA AND MAUDE----HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE WITH SUSAN... I THINK SHE WENT ON SEVERAL CRUISES- ONE THRU THE PANAMA CANAL????

AND WHEN SHE WENT TO DEER ISLE MAINE, MY HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND DARWIN WOULD SEE HER AROUND.

TH E 3 WERE BORN IN   2003   THUMPER AND MOOSE.  BACK WHEN BETTY AND I SLEPT ON TH E FLOOR OF WHAT IS NOW THE OVERFLOW ROOM  .

****** 

CHARLIE  FROM EXPLORE GAVE A LONG INTERVIEW YESTERDAY AND IT HAS BEEN REPLAYED...  WORTH WATCHING-- ESPECIALLY AS HE IS TH E SOURCE OF  BOTH CAMERA AND FUNDING.  HE ALSO STRESSED PRESENTING EXPLORE MINUS THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT.  LUCKILY I HAVE ALWAYS SHIED FROM HAVING ANYONE "USE" OUR LOGO/NAME  TO TEIR OWN BENEFIT...WE HAVE A VERY SMALL DOGGIE BAG OF STRANGE THINGS, BUT YESTERDAY SOMEONE CAME UP WITH  THE FUND RAISING IDEA OF BRACELETS $5 WITH OUR NAME ON THEM.  THIS IS THE KIND OF THING I JUST DON'T WANT TO GET INTO...  THE FEW THINGS AROUND HERE ARE THINGS WE USE ANYWAY---  BUT THE CLEARSPAN  LABEL ON THE BUILDING...IS AS CLOSE TO ADVERTISING THAT I WANT TO GET.

LUCKILY  CHARLIE THINKS THAT WAY ALSO.

*******

I BOUGHT A YARDSTICK  FOR A NUTTY PROFESSOR IDEA... AND PER USUAL SOMEONE UNLOADED MY CAR AND PUT IT AWAY

SO I BOUGHT ANOTHER YESTERDAY WHEN I GOT MORE PAINT FOR THE FLOOR IN THE LOFT... AND GUESS WHAT.... IT TOO HAS GONE TO THAT SAME  AWAY  

THAT CONCEPT IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME WITH MY SENIOR MEMORY  BECAUSE I AM NEVER SURE IF I BOUGHT ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE--- EXCEPT I HAD THE RECIEPT FOR THE SECOND ONE.

IT IS NOT JUST YARDSTICKS BEING COLLECTED IN THE  AWAY PLACE... LAST NIGHT IT WAS NOODLES THAT I HAD LOOKED FORWARD TO HAVING FOR SUPPER-- I HAD SEEN THEM THERE  ON THE SHELF FOR MONTHS..  I FINALLY CALLED TRACY-- LOOKING FOR MY NOODLES...WHO SAID THEY FELL ON THE FLOOR AND  THREW THEM OUT YESTERDAY.

THERE IS SOMETHING IN MY MENTAL MAKE UP  THAT MAKES ME FOCUS ON WHAT I SEEM TO INSTINCTLY RECOGNIZE AS MISSING.

IT IS ALMOST AS STRANGE AS THAT MYSTERIOUS ARRIVAL  OF THINGS WE ALL OF A SUDDEN NEED. ... SAYING " I WISH WE HAD A FRY PAN TO  USE TO FEED BUDDY"  THEN OPENING THE MAIL THAT NIGHT AND PRESTO 2 PURPLE FRY PANS..  I COULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT.  IT HAPPENS...

MAKES YOU WONDER...

AUG 14 2014
LAST 1/2  OF AUGUST ALREADY????? 

 DOGFEST APPROACHETH

 TODAY I WILL ORDER THE  HANDICAP ACCESS/PORTAPOTTIE, AND  AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF CLAMBAKES---  AND I WILL  BE READY.  ( MARK AND ANNE ARE FANATICAL ABOUT CHAIRS AND TABLES-- SO I WILL LET THEM-)  THE REST IS NORMAL ACTIVITY ANYWAY.

JULIE DID MENTION NAME TAGS  AND SINCE THEY WERE PURPLE I SAID FINE..  

WE ARE BECOMING A PURPLE FANTASY... I MEAN WITH A PURPLE FIRE HYDRANT-- WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL IT???

***********

I TOOK LYDIA TO COSTCO YESTERDAY-- TOTALLY UNREMARKABLE-- PERFECT BEHAVIOR- SO SHE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE  WORSE FOR WEAR WITH HER NIGHT ON THE TOWN.

AS I SAT WAITING  FORJACKY AND AMY TO LOAD UP ON PUPPY FOOD, A WOMAN CAME ALONG WHO WAS A PUPPY RAISER FOR CCI-- LIVES IN MARBLEHEAD..  WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT TRAINING   THEY RAISE THE PUPS TIL 18 MONTHS AT WHICH POINT THEY ARE RETURNED TO CCI FOR "OFFICIAL TRAINING"-- SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW  RELAXED, AND WELL BEHAVED LYDIA WAS AT HER AGE.....  SHE WENT OVER SOME OF THEIR "RULES OF TRAINING" LIKE THEY DON'T GET ANY FOOD OR TREATS UNLESS THEY MAKE EYE CONTACT...-- SHE HAD A BUNCH OF THEM-- AND THEY WERE TO KNOW 37 "COMMANDS" AT 18 MONTHS AT WHICH POINT THEY WENT BACK TO CCI AND 60% GOT WASHED OUT.

IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION.  GRANTED-- THESE DOGS NEED TO KNOW A BUNCH OF COMMANDS THAT DON'T MAKE ANY SENSE FOR US...---AND I WONDER IF ALL ARE NECESSARY--- IF IT TAKES AN EXTRA 2 MONTHS TO GET A DOG TO TURN ON A LIGHT SWITCH.... MIGHT THEY BE BETTER TO SAVE THAT TIME AN BUY ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE YOU CLAPP  YOUR HANDS??  I WONDER IF A RETHINKING WOULD BE IN ORDER.

 TO START THEIR TRAINING AT 18 MONTHS SEEMS A BIT LATE TO ME....

AS FOR OPENING DOORS- TEACHING A DANE TO OEPN DOORS IS ONE OF THE WORST THINGS I EVER DID...  A LOVELY GOLDEN OR LAB MIGHT OPEN DOORS ON COMMAND, BUT A GREAT DANE SAYS "WANNA SEE WHAT I LEARNED TO DO?"  AND NOTHING IS SACRED...   BROWNIE ( A REALLY HUGE/TALL MERLE FOLLOWED ME INTO A STOP AND SHOP ONE DAY  CAUSEING ALL KINDS OF PANIC ABOUT A WILD ANIMAL IN THE STORE..  HE WAS JUST WANDERING AROUND LOOKING FOR ME. 

BENTLEY UNDERSTANDS DOOR OPENING AND IS A PROBLEM BECAUESE OF IT. PROPERLY INSPIRED  ( GIRL DOGS)  HE CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO STAY MOST ANYWHERE.

HE CAN NOT DO SNAPS YET ANYWAY...

MAYBE THAT IS A BIG  DIFFERENCE IN DANES VS NORMAL DOGS  --- THEY USE THIER KNOWLEDGE.

BRAINSTORM OF THE DAY-- I AM WONDERING IF THOSE METAL STEPS WE HAVE IN THE ARENA COULD BE RE-DESIGNED TO GET THE FRECKLEBUTS INTO THE HAY LOFT TO KEEPO GRACE COMPANY.  

THAT FLOOR SHOULD GE PAINTED TODAY..

**** 

 BUD 2 IS IN THE GUEST HOUSE WITH MAROON, I AM TOLD IT IS GOING VERY WELL... WE WILL TAKE HIM OUT TODAY

***** 

WE WILL TRY FOR ANOTHER CALENDAR SHOT TODAY  WITH THE DOG HOUSE... WE NEED TO GET THAT BACK INTO IT'S JOB AS MAIL BOX..  YESTERDAY FEDEX LEFT EVERYTHING IN THE POURING RAIN... NOT BAD FOR DOG THINGS BUT MY COPY OF SOME LEGAL PAPERS GOT DRENCHED.  NOW HANGING FROM THE RAFTERS OVER MY HEAD DRYING..

**********

I BETTER GO DO THAT NOW

****

SORRY NO CUT AND PASTE

sperm has been ordered sent from california to a dr william truesdale of seekonk-- who  has liquid nitrogen storage capabilities... we own 14 "straws"  of nahbay's sperm....apparently we will use 7 straws- so that means we might be able to use it again... where if i sent it to george's saving it for future use could be complicated. and since this is a learning process... . nahbay can be googled... ..  now we start looking for the lh surge  which indicates fertile time.. george will do this--- 

he is alot more expensive than asking bentley-- but we need the actual numbers -- all bentley can tell us  is  ...NOW....

************

i think we have another calendar shot "in the can"    with hopes of doing another tomorrow... 

*********

yesterdays mail call has to be one of the all time greats--  the timing  , anticipation  and presentation were superb..

all the films of the mial calls are on  our web  under photos... then misc information-- then mail calls.



sheila dug out my old penny farthing high wheeler bike that i rode in the great race...  26 miles i peddaled that thing.. but this  last 20 feet across  the off ice  was pretty funny-- i no longer hop on and off easily. so the sound effects were also spectacular.



 that great race was from watertown to marblehead-- started as an arguement between 2 guys in a bar  -- was it faster on land or by water ( charles river and atlantic ocean)- started small but soon became many thousands of semi- sober people riding pedalilng,pushing strange things around boston at 4 am.

i did not know shheila at the time  but i do remember the vehicle she was on...  a 10 people bicycle sort of thing---very impressive-- they actually sell them now in hammercheer schlemmer  they are called  party bars   5 on each side facing each other with a bar inbetween--t hey rent them in new orleans  and places like that.

**********



ali came and went yesterday and fed us all very well-- both lunch and dinner...

mchelle is still here-- i think-- upstairs.



and we expect bud in th eguest house today  to meet with maroon..

************

if her leg is better i may take lydia to costco...  this tiem not for food, but we need to borrow a shopping cart for the next photo shoot..  they do not allow photos inside costco.. found that out long ago.
*************

and a didi report

I was thinking about DiDi being 4 years old...she has graced my life for 2 1/2 years.

I continue to learn from my amazing DiDi. We have been together now for 4 short 
years. I can't help but reflect on how she has helped me through some difficult 
life experiences, made me laugh when I needed to, and continues to see me 
through daily challenges. 
I am surprised by the ever growing number of people 
whose lives have been touched my beautiful best friend. Several examples: a 
newly married young woman sitting next to DiDi and I on the airplane to Salt 
Lake City Utah had terrible flight anxiety requiring medication, but DiDi's 
attention soothed to the point where she didn't need her medication.
 Skipping to last week, when my husband woke up at 2am with excrutiating stomach pain. We ended up in the emergency room at the hospital, where I am immensely 
uncomfortable and queasy. But DiDi kept me calm and ok through the next 4 1/2 
hrs as Doctors, nurses, a surgeon, and an internal specialist all came and went; 
some without even knowing DiDi was there.
 We were then sent to the ICU for the 
next 4 days as a team of doctors worked to find out what was wrong with Larry. 
Again, DiDi helped me through long days with Larry in the ICU. At one point, 
another patients family member saw us in the hallway and asked me to bring DiDi 
in to see his father in one of the ICU rooms. DiDi seemed to know just what to 
do to quietly cheer up the gentleman. His delight at seeing her was evident in 
his smile and sparkling eyes. I couldn't see his monitors, but bet his life sign 
numbers (heart rate, blood pressure, etc) improved, if only momentarily.
 Turned out, Larry had pancreatitus and a gangrenous gall bladder, which was removed . 
ICU nurses, doctors, specialists, surgeons, and cleaning staff were impressed 
with my regal lady as pictures were taken, discussions ensued, and attitudes 
brightened.
Thank you again Carlene and SDP associates,
Karen

aug 12 2014

now ----- the water pressure seems low in the house.. so i must go and look into that---  an underground leak is awful-- and expensive--- runs up the water bill and costs thousands to fix... last time $900 and $15,000.    could be town  water pressure... but anything on this side of th emeter is my problem

************

i will give you all your assignment early--

opal is in red heat---( not attractive to bentley - or any dog - yet)

that gives us a few days before he decides she is "ripe" 

 rotten fellow-- he is her sister  and does not give a rip.

but we are planning on using the frozen sperm in calif

and here is the name of where it is.

https://www.zoetisus.com

don't anyone order anything.. just tell me how to do it.  i have a couple other problems of the day--  but this opal breeding has no "hold" button...

now we have to figure out how to get one of those frozen nitrogen tanks  with the nahbay sperm straws to our house in the next few days--- and recharge the liquid nitro in amesbury  and wait for opal's ----lh surge

hi george---

plan is... to try and use this  frozen  black out of blue sperm-- it has cost me $90 per year to store the stuff---  

so  we  order the stuff shipped-- it will come in hthat big container-- which we can refill in amesbury liquid nitrogen-- so getting it shipped early should not be a problem.

you do the testing--  and be as kind as you can with  the cost...when  the right day arrives-----

 we open the can -- and if there are swimmers  we put them in her

if not we go home and breed to walter--  who last time could not get it in so we might need to draw from him...

 is that a plan?

***********

Hi Carlene,

With all that's been going on I almost missed my anniversary with Willow! Shame on me!! As you know I'm sure, I will be forever grateful to you Ms. White :) and SDP for not just Willow but for all SDP did for me. We all know I came there the queen of denial. As even my neurologist said " you don't think people KNOW there's something wrong with the way you walk?" Ha! You and she would get along quite well. The point being, at SDP with the great people in that environment, I was finally able to come to terms with where I was and what I needed and that I actually did need help. All without being beaten with a whiffle bat. So, thank you for that. And as I have said numerous times but never enough, thank you for my amazing Willow. The following is what I wrote to commemorate this past year and post on Facebook. As I know you don't FaceBook, I wanted to share it with you. Much Gratitude, Lynne

Willow's Mom just posted this on fb:

"So with all that has occurred this past weekend and week, I was most remiss in not acknowledging a very important landmark.

It has been one year since Willow, A.K.A. Wilamena Monkey Pants, became my incredible, faithful, courageous, loving partner.

During this year we have struggled together, succeeded together, laughed together, cried together, worked (very hard) together, played together, dined together, snuggled together and always at the end of the day, we sleep together. For she is indeed, my partner.

Willow came to me with no expectations. She wanted only to work and to please me. And in return to be loved and cared for. I too, had no concrete expectations as she was my first service dog. She was beautiful and smart, she had truly picked me but, I truly did not know what was to come.

As we discovered each other I found she was so much more than I could have ever dreamed of. She was intuitive, she was clever, while she could be wary of new things she was also fearless when she needed to be. She quickly learned my gait and how best to walk with me. She learned to sense my bad days and wait to help me out of bed and down the stairs. Her watchful eyes on me even when she was playing with the other dogs.

Throughout this past year Willow has given me so much of my life back that I had not even realized I had lost. It had become so very easy to simply stop going places and stop doing things out of a fear of falling. It happened so gradually, I didn't even realize it had happened. Once Willow was by my side, I started going places and doing things and at some point I realized just how much I had not been doing. The more I asked her to do, the more she shined. Put Mutt Muffs on so I can shoot trap? Okay! Sure mom! Go to the Wang Center with a HUGE crowd and see a show? Why not? I'll sleep against the stage. Learn to brace me during my workout in the gym so I can do that again? Okay, I especially love lunges and squats because you say my name when you count! "One Willow, Two Willow..."). Learn to walk in heels for Auntie's wedding? Well, I don't know about that mom but, we can try. And we did. The list goes on. She amazes me. If I ask, she comes through. We are never apart except for the brief time I am in the MRI for my regular scans. She is always at my side and I now realize my world is open again. It will never be the same as before my diagnosis but that's okay. Because now with Willow in some ways, it's better.

With Much Love and Graditude, Willow's Mom, Lynne"

AUG 11 2014

AT THE MOMENT I CAN NOT THINK OF ANYTHING CLEVER OR WHITTY TO SHARE...... 

JAN LOVE (CP)   HAS BEEN HERE  OVER A WEEK HELPING WITH GENERIC CHORES - DOING A GREAT JOB.... AND AS SHE WAITS FOR ANOTHER CP TO COME GET HER TO THE AIRPORT... ANOTHER CP IS SLEEPING UPSTAIRS  READY TO CARRY ON IN JAN'S PLACE.

IT IS MORE OF THE 9 MILLION PEOPLE IN MY LIVING ROOM...

I LOVE HOW THE  CP'S HAVE TAKEN OVER AIRPORT TRANSPORT  BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE TO RENT A CAR WHEN ALL YOU DO WHEN YOU GET HERE IS  STAY ON THE PROPERTY..  IF YOU NEED A RIDE TO SOME STORE.. GET ON THE MEGAN/KATI  BUS WHICH GOES OUT  TRAINING TO RANDOM PLACES ABOUT EVERY 2 HOURS ALL DAY

THE  MORE MONEY YOU SAVE THE MORE CHICKEN BRICKS YOU CAN BUY..

ON THAT TOPIC    EVERY TIME I START UP A "WALL" FOR THE CHICKEN BRICKS... I COULD USE SOME HELP WITH NAMING IT... I NEED SOME CREATIVE NAMES..  AS YOU ALL SEND IN WHEN WE TRY AND NAME LITTERS--- THERE IS SOME REAL CREATIVE TALENT OUT THERE.... I COULD USE SOME HELP NAMING THEM.

WE ARE GETTING SO MANY NEW  VIEWERS,  I AM HOPING  YOU CAN  TRAIN THE  NEW PEOPLE TO BUY A BRICK IF THEY CAN...  THERE ARE ALOT OF NEW NAMES...   AND MEGAN TELLS ME WE HAVE 14 SPAY AND NEUTERS TO DO THIS MONTH...

AND DOG FEST APPROACHETH-- SOMEONE ASKED ME IF WE ARE READY...  

I DUNNO... READY FOR WHAT?  

A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AND WATCH AHD HELP WITH ALL THE THINGS WE DO ANYWAY????

MARK'S MANY JOBS INLUDE WORRYING ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING FED..  AND I   HAVE FULL FAITH IN  MARK'S MANAGEMENT OF THE FOOD DEPARTMENT.... 

OTHER THAN ORDERING A HANDICAP PORTAPOTTY  .. WHAT ELSE  IS THERE???

MAYBE  FIND A FEW TABLES AND CHAIRS-- BUT THE REST IS JUST ANOTHER DAY AS USUAL...  DOGS GET FED--- POOP GETS PICKED---TRAINING HAPPENS..

STUFF LIKE THAT...

WEEEELLLLLLLL.... I DO HAVE A FEW "ACTIVITIES" PLANNED-- EVERYONE WILL BE GIVEN A CARD FOR PARTICIPATION IN THESE FEW EVENTS IF THEY CHOOSE TO....-- AND WILL GET A SCORE AT THE END.  I AM NOT SURE THEY WILL WIN ANYTHING  EXCEPT BRAGGING RIGHTS TO A HIGH NUMBER...

ALL THESE ACTIVITIES WILL BE THINGS WE DO EVERY DAY HERE.

TIMED POO PICKING 

FIRE HYDRANT DRENCHING

NAIL HAMMERING

POO TOSSING  

CHAIN LINK MANAGEMENT

 ALL THE VOLUNTEERS HERE WANT TO INCLUDE CHICKEN HERDING  BUT I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SCORE IT..

IT CERTAINLY WOULD BE ENTERTAINING TO WATCH.

 FOR PREPARATION ---I THINK ALL I NEED IS A PLASTIC PUPPY ON WHEELS -- MAYBE IF YOU ALL FOUND SOME OF THOSE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL--  MUST ROLL FREELY DOWN AN  INCLINE.

**********

LYDIA REPORT

SHE IS HERE-- I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SHE GOT INTO -- BUT SHE HAS "EXPLOSIVE  DIARRHEA"   AND IS LIMPING OFF ONE HIND LEG-- WHICH I THOUGHT WAS ONLY A CUT PAD.. BUT IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE- SO I WILL TAKE HER TO SEE GEORGE THIS MORNING.

JOANNE IS DUE BACK HERE FOR A  MEETING WITH MEG KATI AND ME ABOUT 10:30  TO TRY AND FIGURE  OUT WHAT NEXT.

I DID TAKE HER OUT YESTERDAY WITH OPAL-- AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TYPE DOG THAN LYDIA AND JOANNE'S BASIC COMMENT WAS OPAL WAS MUCH MORE SOLID... 

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CUTTING AND PASTING....

"Rogue  WAS on an adventure to Boston aquarium. .. she did awesome everywhere.. went on a city bus and train and walked boston. She was great! Thank u sdp!!! She loved watching the seals but hated the sound from the electric eel.."

I DON'T THINK I  PASTED THIS A FEW DAYS AGO...

Hi Carlene,
I can't emphasize enough how grateful I am to you and the volunteers for raising and training Spot.  She was an incredibly sweet and loyal dog.  As you know, FA is a progressive disease and there's no way that I would have been able to walk as long as I did without her.  As my energy levels decreased and walking became harder, she seemed to understand.  The first time I asked her to pull me in my wheelchair, she just did it.  All I said was "walk" and off we went.  I was so proud of her that day...and all days.  Even the days when we didn't leave the house but she was happy to play gently with my 2.5 year old twins.  

Danes are an incredible breed.  I never would have had one for a pet because of their size so thank you for exposing me to them.

The house still feels empty to me and I keep looking for her in her usual places.  I miss the constant shadow behind me, but I'm not ready to think about another dog yet.

I'm forever in debt to you and the volunteers.

Allison